 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All
Usually I take my own car on the ferry hull to rotterdam then drive to Austria to visit my family. However I've recentlt had car trouble and I don't trust it this time around. I was thinking of hiring a car in either Rotterdam or Hull...
Anyone have any tips or done it before, I realise I would need winter tyres, unlimited milage and snow chains, these are usually provided when I've hired in Europe, not sure about hiring in the Uk though.
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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these are usually provided when I've hired in Europe
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They're certainly not ubiquitous on European car hire - for example, not in Italy or France. At first glance, I'd have thought it would be much cheaper and easier to fly.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Jones82, not sure why you don't rent in York where you stand a chance of knowing the hire companies - it's just another 30 miles on the unlimited mileage you want. The winter tyres/snow chains are likely to be non-standard, the big chains might provide but charge you for shipping an equipped vehicle from elsewhere in the UK, with a local firm you would simply have to negotiate.
(If you do want to look nearer Hull, here in Beverley the local company is Andrews Self Drive and I think Eastgate Car Hire (or similar name) might be a local outfit).
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I rented a Transit, older vehicle with a big engine, on the recommendation of the local van hire people, to drive full of furniture to the Alps, in early December, long time ago. I had to buy chains on a "sale or return" basis and having had to use them for the last two miles wasn't able to return them. Also had to leave it with the bonnet up, in the sun, one very cold morning, before it would start. But we needed the carrying capacity and also needed to stop south of Paris to pick up stuff from Ikea, which wasn't available at the time in the UK. Otherwise, renting a vehicle and taking it on an expensive sea-crossing doesn't seem a particularly good way to get from A to B. Even some Yorkshiremen do seem to find a way to fly to the Alps!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Even some Yorkshiremen do seem to find a way to fly to the Alps!
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Yawn….. 
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So I needed to do this, albeit with a van not a car.
I had to hire, pay a significant insurance premium, then fit my own winter tyres, then remove at the end of the trip.
Sounds a bit mad, but did it 3 years on the bounce, so got some decent use out of the tyres in the end.
It won't be easy I don't think.
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Might be easier to take your car on the boat then hire in Holland for the long drive.
Cheaper if you foot passenger, but not sure how much luggage you'd want and how you'd get to the hire depot.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Why not get the train – York is a pretty convenient place to start that journey from, if it’s all running. I believe the route is: York, (Leeds?), Kings X, cross the road to St Pancras, Brussels, overnight sleeper to e.g. Innsbruck. Then pick a car up if you need one.
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@Scarlet, +1. Done that before, it’s a great way to do the trip (and I’ve driven it several times too). No need even to go via Leeds, either. All very civilised.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Jones82, wouldn't it be more economically viable to competently attend to your own car if the concern can be reasonably addressed to make that reliable for the trip, especially if it's equipped with winter in mind ?
Just thinking aloud as alternative costs may easily outweigh those contained in the above.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Yes thanks all looking into it further, the costs of hiring in the uk are high and the Dutch companies I tried didn’t provide winter tyres or snow chains. My car just isn’t worth the risk I’m almost certain it will break down. As much as I love driving and the journey experience that goes with it, looks like I’m flying again this year!
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@Jones82, yes the costs soon mount in hiring any vehicle and especially when you need competent winter equipment added into the deal.
From a point of interest, our family car is 21 this year and one of the things I ask myself in maintaining it is, would I be prepared to jump in it at any point with no notice for a trip to the alps in winter ? Surprising how it focuses my maintenance plan in looking after it. Another I look after for extended family, I just wouldn't want them to have an avoidable failure when driving it either, particularly in a vulnerable road position like a busy no safety lane motorway, that one is now 16 yrs old and also ok for the notional ski trip at the drop of a hat. 
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You know it makes sense.
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@Jones82, we've got 9-seat vans available with winter tyres, chains, insurance and European breakdown cover included in the price. Not sure if it's what you're after, as you mention you're looking for a car and from Hull. But we could offer free parking at our Oxford site and you could continue to the channel ports from there.
We might add some Berlingo sized vans in the future, for groups of 4/5, which will cost less to hire than the 9-seaters. Webpage below in case you're interested. We have also got some VW Transporters set up as 6-seaters, with auto boxes. Very nice and would be a comfortable way to travel.
Just out of interest, what would your ideal car/location/price have been if this had been easily available? It's something we're having a look at and would be good to know what people are after.
https://www.vansforbands.co.uk/winter-holidays
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I’ve booked trains and flights now but I was thinking an estate car for carrying boards. Around the £400-£500 mark for winter tyres and chains.
In the end I managed to get easyJet Gatwick to Innsbruck and a train to Gatwick with a premier inn for £500 all in two adults. The trains cost £70 more than the flights
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Jones82, that's interesting. It seems your preference for hiring a car and driving wouldn't have been price driven. I agree with you though, and I enjoy the drive and prefer it to airlines and busy airports. And that's not just because we've got 9-seat vans and minibuses available to hire for this specific purpose!
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